Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Research Articles

The Effect of Multi-tasking Exercise Intervention on Cognitive Function in Elderly and Cognitive Impairment Patients: a Pilot Multicenter Study.

Background and PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of multi-tasking exercise on cognitive and motor function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitive normal elderly (CNE).MethodsA total of 144 subjects were recruited from 14 regional dementia centers in Busan Metropolitan City. With the exception of 77 subjects unsuitable for the study, 67 subjects participated in the intervention. The Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), Subject Memory Complain Questionnaire (SMCQ), and the Korean version of the Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K) were used to determine changes in cognitive function and depressive symptoms pre-post intervention in patients with MCI and CNE, respectively. To observe changes in motor function, 5-chair sit to stand and 5-meter walking speed on the lower body strength and walking ability were also measured in both groups.ResultsFor the MCI group, changes in cognitive and depressive symptoms on the tasks of MMSE-DS (p=0.006), SMCQ (p=0.000), SGDS-K (p=0.000) and the result of the motor function analysis on the items of 5-chair sit to stand (p=0.000), normal speed (p=0.004) and maximal speed (p=0.002) of 5-meter walking speed (p<0.005). In the CNE group, all the items except MMSE-DS (p=0.068) and SGDS-K (p=0.095) showed statistically significant improvement.ConclusionsMulti-tasking exercise intervention, including exercise and cognitive tasks, may possibly improve the cognitive and motor function in patients with MCI and CNE.

The cognitive and psychosocial effects of auditory training and hearing aids in adults with hearing loss.

PurposeOur study assessed the efficacy of the simultaneous use of hearing aids and auditory training for improving cognition and psychosocial function in adults with hearing loss, and the relationships between hearing loss, speech perception and cognition.Participants and methodsA 40-person (aged 50–90 years) pilot study in Melbourne, Australia, was conducted. Participants with hearing impairment completed the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, questions about social activity participation, a wide range of cognitive tasks and a speech perception test at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Participants underwent auditory training for 6 months and used hearing aids for 3 months.ResultsCorrelations and structural equation modeling suggested that several cognitive domains were associated with speech perception at baseline, but only the Incongruent Stroop cognition measure was associated with hearing loss. Hearing aid use reduced problems with communication, but there were no significant improvements in speech perception, social interaction or cognition. The effect of hearing aids and auditory training for improving depressive symptoms was significant with a moderate to large effect size (Cohen’s d=0.87).ConclusionThe small sample size and a relatively high rate of attrition meant that this study was underpowered. However, baseline results suggested relationships between hearing loss, speech perception and cognition, and the hearing intervention provided evidence of reduced depressive symptoms. A full-scale, randomized hearing loss intervention and a longer neuroim-aging study with cognitive outcomes measured in the short term as well as after several years of hearing aid use are needed.

The prevalence and correlates of depression of the elderly in local community centers in Nantou, Taiwan

Objectives: Depression in the elderly has become a serious health-care issue worldwide. In this study, we intended to evaluate the prevalence of depressive tendency among community-dwelling elderly in Nantou Prefecture, to assess sociodemographic factor in relation to depression, and to compare the characteristics of different community centers. Methods: We enrolled 133 old adult dwellers in five community centers in Nantou City and Zhongliao Township in Nantou Prefecture, Taiwan. Demographic and medical information was collected and participants filled Chinese versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-15). Results: The cutoff point of GDS-15 was set above 5. The prevalence of depressive tendency in community centers in Nantou was 24.1%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that having financial strain (odds ratio [OR] = 4.698, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.90–12.70, p

Study Of Depression in Elderly: Prevalence and Factors Associated

Introduction: Ageing is a normal phenomenon. Various studies shows that there is a sharp rise in the elderly population in the last few years. Prevalence of depression in elderly is found to around 13% in the community sample in various countries. There is a dearth of study related to psychiatric illness in elderly in Nepal. This study was aimed to find the prevalence of depression in elderly and see for various factors associated with elderly depression.&#x0D; Material And Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Siddharthnagar Municipality, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi. 316 elderly were selected by using systematic random sampling technique. A Semi- structured interview schedule was developed to collect Socio-demographic data. The Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale (SF-GDS) was used to find out the prevalence of depression among elderly people. Ethical Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee, Chitwan Medical College and permission was obtained from Siddharthnagar Municipality, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi. The collected data was entered in Epidata 3.1 and the data was exported and analyzed in IBM SPSS 20.&#x0D; Results: There were a total of 316 samples in this study. The mean age of respondents was 68.47 years of age. Majority of the respondents (54.1%) were female and living in joint Family (72.2%). Almost 45.9% respondents were from upper caste groups, 90.5% of respondents were Hindus. Among the married (100%) respondents, 54.6% of respondents were living with spouse and 3.2% were divorced and separated from spouse. Depression was present in 49.4% of respondents were depressed. Among depressed respondents, 46.7% of respondents were having mild depression, 39.2% moderate depression and 14.1% severe depression.&#x0D; Conclusion: The finding of this study concluded that depression among elderly people was a substantial problem in Siddharthnagar Municipality, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi.

The effect of Baduanjin qigong combined with CBT on physical fitness and psychological health of elderly housebound.

Background:To investigate the effectiveness of Baduanjin qigong combined with cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) on the physical fitness and psychological health of elderly housebound.Materials and methods:The 120 elderly housebound were randomly divided into 3 intervention groups: Baduanjin training, Baduanjin training combined with CBT, and CBT. The interventions were conducted by means of home visits over 6 months. Spirometry, SF-36 health survey of quality of life, and Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) were used to collect physical health data, and self-evaluation of overall health status, self-evaluation of loneliness, and short-form geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) were used to collect mental health data at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after intervention. Data was analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance (rANOVA) and chi-squared test (χ2 test).Results:Forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), quality of life (QOL), and self-reported health status were significantly increased (P < .05) in the group receiving joint Baduanjin and CBT intervention at 3 months and 6 months, as compared to the Baduanjin only group or the CBT only group. Activities of daily living (ADL), self-evaluated loneliness, and level of depression were significantly lowered (P < .05) in the group receiving joint Baduanjin and CBT intervention at 3 months and 6 months, as compared to the Baduanjin only group or the CBT only group.Conclusions:Physical and psychological statuses of elderly housebound were significantly improved by Baduanjin training combined with CBT. The effect of the combined intervention exceeded that of CBT or Baduanjin alone.

Depressive Symptoms and APOE ε2 Broad the Natural History in Presenilin-1 E280A Familial Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease

Background: Meta-analysis have associated depression with Alzheimer's disease, but it has not been easy to clarify whether it is a trigger or only a consequence. A longitudinal follow-up of depressive symptoms in carriers of the presenilin 1 (PSEN) E280A mutation, the biggest cohort in the world with a single genetic cause, help to understand this relationship. Methods: After 20-years of studying the PSEN1-E280A cohort, carriers of the mutation were retrospectively analysed for identifying depressive symptoms and other possible risk factors associated to the age of onset and progression at each clinical stage of the disease using Cox proportional hazards models. Clinically relevant depressive symptoms were identified according to three criteria: Structured medical interview, Geriatric depression scale short form, and Neuropsychiatric inventory-affective score. We analysed potential confounders: APOE, sex, hypothyroidism, educational level, marital status, rural residence, tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse. Findings: Out of 6737 identified subjects in our database, 190 symptomatic carriers met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Participants exhibiting depressive symptoms prior to the appearance of amnesic symptoms were more prone to reach a faster onset of dementia stage. Hazard Ratio (HR)= 1,67; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.01 to 2.76. Apolipoprotein E (APOE)e2 is a protective modifier of the age of onset in all stages: MCI HR= 0.48 (95% CI 0.24-0.98), dementia HR= 0.41 (95% CI 0.20-0.81); death HR = 0,28 (95% CI 0.09-0.84). Interpretation: Apolipoprotein Ee2 delay the onset of familial EOAD, PSEN1 E280A mutation. Important depressive symptom before the amnesic signs is triggering factor of earlier dementia stage, even in presence of APOE e2. These findings help to understand the magnitude of this complex genetic characteristic. Further studies are required to identify interventions capable of at least to delay the onset of dementia, modifying individual outcomes and decrease the social, family and economic impact. Funding Statement: This work was conducted with support from Universidad de Antioquia and Universidad Nacional de Colombia Declaration of Interests: None of the authors have any financial interests or affiliations relevant to the subject of this manuscript. Ethics Approval Statement: The execution of the study was approved by the ethics research committee of the Universidad de Antioquia. All Individuals authorized their participation and signed an informed consent. The confidentiality of their medical records was preserved.

The reliability and validity of 10-item Connor-Davidson resilience scale in the community-dwelling older adults

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of 10 items Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC-10) in the community-dwelling older adults. Methods Totally 620 community-dwelling older adults randomly chosen from 16 communities in Chengdu city were investigated by CD-RISC-10, the geriatric depression scale short form (GDS-SF) and self-made basic condition questionnaire. Results The discrimination of the 10 items was statistically significant(t=6.84-13.57, P<0.01). Exploratory factor analysis showed two factors (strength and hardiness) were extracted, and the cumulative variance interpretation rate was 42.32%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that model index of two sub-factors(χ2/df=1.518(P<0.001), CFI =0.964, TLI =0.948, IFI =0.965, NFI =0.904, RMSEA=0.042). Cronbach's α of the total scale and the two sub-factors were 0.737, 0.673 and 0.585 respectively. After half a month, the retest reliability coefficients of the total scale and the two sub-factors were 0.974, 0.932 and 0.941(P<0.01). Conclusion The CD-RISC-10 scale has acceptable reliability and validity, with using easily and conveniently. Therefore, it is an effective tool for measuring the resilience of the community-dwelling older adults. Key words: Resilience; Community-dwelling older adults; Reliability; Validity

Relationship between Serum BDNF Levels and Depressive Mood in Subacute Stroke Patients: A Preliminary Study.

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the potential of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a biomarker in poststroke depressive mood in subacute stroke patients. Thirty-eight subacute stroke patients were recruited in this study. All participants underwent the standard rehabilitation program that included 2 h of physical therapy daily and 1 h of occupational therapy five days a week. The rehabilitation period lasted two weeks during the subacute stroke phase. We measured the serum BDNF, proBDNF, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 before and one and two weeks after the standard rehabilitation program. In addition, all participants were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF) for depressive mood at three time points. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between serum BDNF levels and the GDS-SF. The GDS-SF showed significant improvement during the standard rehabilitation program period (p < 0.05). The GDS-SF was significantly correlated with serum BDNF levels at each time point (p < 0.05). These results suggest that serum BDNF may be used as a biomarker for depressive mood in subacute stroke patients. However, further studies with larger study populations are needed to clarify these results.

Factors Influencing SWAL-QOL (Swallowing-Quality of Life) of Elders

Purpose According to a survey of older people in 2014, 54.6% of survey participants reported feeling uncomfortable in their daily life because of swallowing disorders. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence swallowing quality of life in community dwelling elders. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 150 community dwelling older people. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires consisting of the MMSE-K(Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean), GDSSF-K (Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version), Life Stress, and SWAL-QOL (Swallowing-Quality of Life). For data analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression were performed using SPSS/WIN 21.0 for Windows. Results There was a significant correlation between swallowing quality of life and mental state (r=.27, p=.001), depression (r=-.47, p<.001) and life stress (r=-.60, p<.001). The factors influencing swallowing quality of life were having experienced aspiration (β=.29, p<.001), and life stress (β=-.38, p<.001). These variables explained 43.0% of swallowing quality of life. Conclusion The findings indicate that the experiencing aspiration and life stress are variables that influence swallowing quality of life. Based on these results, nurses should educate older people about chronic disease management and eating habits to prevent aspiration. 주요어: 인지기능, 우울, 생활 ìŠ¤íŠ¸ë ˆìŠ¤, 삼킴 곤란, 삶의 질 Key Words: Cognition, Depression, Psychological stress, Deglutition disorders, Quality of life

Do age and education predict performance of older adults on the d2 Test?

The objective of this study was to investigate the association of age and education in the performance of cognitively preserved older adults in the d2 Sustained-Attention Test, and to compare the results of different age groups and levels of schooling in this instrument. The sample was composed of 211 adults, 60 years of age or older, who were not institutionalized, and who completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale (short form), and the d2 Test. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, partial correlations, multiple linear regression and one-way ANOVA. The results of partial correlations and multiple linear regression showed that age and years of schooling demonstrated significant associations with all d2 Test scores, with age being the predictive variable that showed the greatest influence on the performance of the older adults. Comparison of performance in the d2 Test among the six groups according to the distribution by age group (60-69 years and 70 years or more) and by levels of schooling (primary, secondary and higher) showed that younger adults with a higher level of schooling scored better on the d2 Test, suggesting the need for normative data studies for this population.

Trajectories in postoperative recovery of elderly hip-fracture patients at risk for depression: A follow-up study.

This secondary-analysis study aimed to identify distinct developmental depressive-symptom trajectories among elderly hip-fracture patients at risk for depression, examine the associations of trajectories with potential risk factors and care models, and explore the effect of trajectory membership on recovery outcomes. Longitudinal data were obtained for 179 patients in a randomized controlled trial. These patients were included if their Geriatric Depression Scale short form scores were ≥ 5 before discharge or 1, 3, 6, or 12 months following discharge. Individuals who followed similar developmental depressive-symptom trajectories were identified by group-based trajectory modeling. Associations between trajectory-group membership and postoperative outcomes over the 12 months following discharge were evaluated by the generalized estimating equations method. We identified a progressively lower-risk group and a fluctuating higher-risk group. Patients' membership in the progressively lower-risk group was associated with receiving a comprehensive care model featuring psychological and physical interventions. Membership in this group was associated with better postoperative outcomes and fewer emergency department visits or hospital readmissions. Patients were more likely to belong to the fluctuating higher-risk group if they had more comorbidities or worse prefracture mobility. Patients in the fluctuating higher-risk group not only had higher levels of depressive symptoms, but also a greater likelihood of poor postoperative recovery outcomes. Depressive symptoms in elderly hip-fracture patients may be alleviated by postoperative comprehensive care that features both psychological and physical interventions. Patients with increasing depressive status should be targeted for early interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record

Health-related quality of life and fall risk associated with age-related body composition changes; sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity.

Sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity are various features of the ageing process that can cause important health issues. The present study was undertaken to investigate the interrelationship between those body composition changes, including their clinical components and the quality-of-life variables. A total of 423 individuals aged 65 years or older was included in this cross-sectional study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria. Body composition parameters were measured with a bioelectrical impedance analyser, and Turkish population-based cut-off points were preferred for diagnosis of sarcopenia. Comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on all patients. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify important factors for sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. The prevalence of sarcopenic, obese and sarcopenic obese subjects was 14%, 35% and 11% respectively. The lowest mean gait speed and hand grip strength values were seen in the sarcopenic obese group (0.6 ± 0.3 m/s and 19.7 ± 9.8 kg respectively). Sarcopenic obese participants were associated with the highest rate for fall risk. The scores for domains of health-related quality of life were worse in both obesity and sarcopenic obesity when compared to others. Body mass index (BMI), number of drugs used, total body fat ratio and geriatric depression scale-short form scores were negatively correlated with all dimensions of SF-36 quality-of-life scale. Sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity are associated with many negative health outcomes, such as high fall risk and low health-related quality of life in geriatric population.

Factors Influencing Quality of Life of Elderly People with Dementia

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that affect quality of life in elderly people with dementia. Methods The participants for this descriptive correlational study were 97 elderly patients with dementia who were attending a daycare center or were being cared for at home. Data were collected from the participants using the Mini-Mental Status Examination-Dementia Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form), Activity of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale. Results There were statistically significant differences in quality of life of elders with dementia according to mobility, using dementia day-care center, and cohabitation. In multiple regression analysis, depression, activity of daily of living, using dementia day-care centers and cohabitation were significant predictors of quality of life and the four variables explained 60% of the variance in quality of life. Conclusion Findings indicate that to enhance the quality of life for elders with dementia, depression needs to be decreased and regular use of daycare service recommended. Further, various programs enhancing physical ability need to be developed and used with these elders. 주요어: 치매, ë ¸ì¸, 삶의 질, 우울, 주간보호 Key words: Dementia, Aged, Quality of life, Depression, Daycare

Correlates of Depression Among Elderly Population Residing in a Community in Eastern Nepal

Introduction: With an increase in life expectancy, demographic transition has led to sharp rise in number of elderly population. The elderly population growth rate per year has always been more than the total population growth rate, signifying the start of the ageing dynamics in Nepal. Mental health is a neglected health problem of the elderly in Nepal, with depression topping the list. This needs to be addressed in the national programs for the elderly to bring about an overall improvement in their health status.Objectives: This study was conducted with objectives to identify the prevalence of depression and factors associated with it in an urban municipality of eastern Nepal.Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted using the Geriatric Depression Scale- Short Form (GDS-SF) with 15 questions to screen for depression with a cutoff of 4/5. Door to door visit was done for data collection and face to face interviews were conducted. Pearson's Chi-square was used and Odds Ratio (OR) with confidence limits was calculated for inferential statistics. Logistic regression analysis was performed for all independent variables significantly associated in the bivariate analysis.Results: Among the 353 study subjects interviewed, depression was identified in 65.2% by GDS-SF. Regression Model showed that age more than 70 years, being in the lower class of Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic scale and elderly who were not satisfied with the respect given by their community had more odds of being depressed.Conclusion: Prevalence of depression among elderly was found to be very high in this study which was significantly associated with older age, low socio-economic status and perceived lack of respect from the community. BJHS 2018;3(1)5 : 325-330

Prevalence and risk factors of depression among Indonesian elderly: A nursing home-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe burden of depressive elderly is high globally. However, nursing home-based studies on prevalence and risk factors of depression are scarce due to feasibility and difficulties in data collection. MethodsThis cross sectional study was conducted at three nursing homes (NHs) in three districts in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. A total of 181 elderly NH residents aged ≥60 were recruited purposively. Information regarding socio-demographics, health-related characteristics and social support among respondents were collected by a modified questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. A short form Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Indonesian version was employed to assess levels of depression. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the data. ResultsOverall, the prevalence of geriatric depression was assessed to be at 42.5% (31.5% in women and 11% in men). Risk factors that were found to be significantly associated with depression in the univariate analysis were female, none or lack of social support, had ≥3 chronic diseases, and perceived inadequacy of care. In the multivariate analysis, perceived inadequacy of care remained significant risk factor for depression amongst the elderly NH residents. LimitationsBesides a number of important variables were determined by self-report, the used sampling technique was purposive. In addition, the elderly who had severe cognitive impairment or dementia and were not able to communicate meaningfully were excluded from this study. ConclusionsThe prevalence rates of depression were relatively high among elderly NH residents in our study area. Adequate health services are needed in order to reduce the risk of depression among elderly NH residents.

Cross-cultural validation of the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale in Serbian community-dwelling women at risk for osteoporotic fracture.

Cross-cultural validation of the Serbian version of the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES). This cross-sectional study involved 257 women aged 65 years and above who were referred for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry examination at the Railway Healthcare Institute in Belgrade, Serbia, between January and April 2016. Data collection comprised of a sociodemographic questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF) questionnaire, and data related to fractures, level of physical activity, use of medications that can increase the risk of falls, and frequency of falls in the past 12 months. None of the study participants had been previously treated for osteoporosis. The internal consistency of the questionnaire items was assessed via Cronbach's alpha, whereas the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to calculate test-retest reliability based on the sample of 257 women. We also evaluated concurrent, convergent, and construct validity. Cronbach's alpha for the total assay score was 0.98. Correlations among the items ranged from 0.84 to 0.93. While ICC for the scale as a whole was 0.99 (95% confidence interval 0.98-0.99), ICC pertaining to individual items ranged from 0.82 to 0.99. Concurrent validity analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between MFES scores and the reported level of physical activity (ρ = 0.34; P < 0.01). Convergent validity was tested through the ratio of MFES and sociodemographic variables. The findings indicated presence of a significant negative correlation between the MFES scores and age (ρ = -0.32; P < 0.01), age of menopause onset (ρ = -0.16; P = 0.01), and GDS-SF scores (ρ = -0.12; P = 0.04), and positive correlation between MFES and the level of social activity (ρ = 0.22; P < 0.01). Significant differences were noted between the MFES scores of participants who had no history fractures and those who did (U = 5277.50; P < 0.01), and between scores of women who reported falling in the past 12 months and those who did not (U = 4968.50; P < 0.01). Similarly, significant differences (P < 0.01) in the scores pertaining to each MFES item were observed between women who had experienced falls in the past (n = 101) and those who had not (n = 156). The Serbian version of the MFES is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used in both clinical practice and research to describe and measure self-perceived fear of falling in older individuals.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms in older nursing home residents with intact cognitive function in Taiwan

The investigators aimed to explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors among older residents with intact cognitive function in nursing homes in Taiwan. A cross-sectional descriptive and correlational research design was used. A convenience sample of 178 older residents without cognitive impairment was recruited from 36 nursing homes in Southern Taiwan. The questionnaires included demographic data; the Barthel Index, which assesses the ability to perform activities of daily living; and the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form. Among older residents in nursing homes with intact cognitive function, 39.3% had depressive symptoms. Age, religion, previous living status, previous working status, being totally dependent in physical function, and being severely dependent in physical function were significant predictors of depressive symptoms among cognitively intact older residents. The findings highlight the critical mental healthcare issues among older residents with intact cognitive function in nursing homes. Practical strategies for preventing the occurrence of depressive symptoms and caring for those who have depressive symptoms should be developed, especially for younger or dependent older residents or residents who have never been employed, have no religious beliefs, or have lived alone before they moved into an institution.

Effectiveness of Aromatherapy Massage and Inhalation on Symptoms of Depression in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Geriatric depression is a major public health problem in China. The study compared the intervention and follow-up effects of aromatherapy massage and inhalation on symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults after an 8-week intervention. A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted on community-dwelling adults ≥60 years old, with symptoms of depression. Participants were randomly assigned, by Latin Square, to aromatherapy massage, inhalation, or control groups (each n = 20). The aromatherapy massage group received 30 min of aromatherapy massage with 5 mL oil, twice weekly for 8 weeks. The oil contained 50 μL (one drop) of compound essential oils (lavender [Lavandula angustifolia], sweet orange [Citrus sinensis], and bergamot (Citrus bergamia in a 2:1:1 ratio)], diluted in sweet almond oil to a concentration of 1%. The aromatherapy inhalation group received 30 min of nasal inhalation of 50 μL of the compound essential oils blended in 10 mL of purified water, twice weekly for 8 weeks. The control group received no intervention. The Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used for assessment at pretest, posttest, and 6- and 10-week follow-ups in all groups. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration was assessed pretest and posttest. Postintervention, the aromatherapy massage and inhalation groups demonstrated significantly lower GDS-SF and PHQ-9 scores than control participants. Compared with the pretest, the GDS-SF and PHQ-9 scores for depressive symptoms in both experimental groups remained lower at posttest (8 weeks), 6-week (14 weeks), and 10-week (18 weeks) follow-ups. However, the GDS-SF and PHQ-9 scores did not differ among the four time points in the control group. The posttest 5-HT concentrations in the aromatherapy massage and inhalation groups were increased over pretest values. Both aromatherapy massage and aromatherapy inhalation may have important implications for intervening depression in older adults.

The evaluation and design of a short depression screening tool in Turkish older adults.

A total of 437 outpatients were enrolled in the study. A researcher evaluated all participants according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fifth edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria, and then another researcher applied GDS-15 to all participants. We obtained the answers of short GDS forms, examined in this study, from GDS-15 forms. After Cohen's κ analysis, we compared the diagnostic value of each question for geriatric depression according to their κ values, and developed three (TGDS-3), four (TGDS-4), five (TGDS-5), and six (TGDS-6) question scales to screen geriatric depression in Turkish population. A total of 437 participants were assessed. The mean age (SD) of the patients was 72.95 years (7.37).Cronbach's α values of GDS-4 and GDS-5 were 0.70. The best cut-off values were ≥5 for GDS-15 and GDS-5, and ≥1 for others. GDS-15 is the most powerful screening scale for geriatric depression. GDS-4 and GDS-5 are not eligible for depression screening in Turkish older adults. All new short scales are valid and reliable, and TGDS-4 is a practical, less time-consuming option for daily practice.

Scripted-IMPROV: Interactive Improvisational Drama With Persons With Dementia-Effects on Engagement, Affect, Depression, and Quality of Life.

Scripted-IMPROV (SI) is a nonpharmacological (ecopsychosocial) intervention that consists of semi-improvised drama performances specifically designed for persons with dementia (PWD). In this 12-site study, 178 PWD took part in the SI intervention. Levels of engagement/affect were assessed at baseline and again during SI performances; quality of life (via the Dementia Quality of Life scale) and depression (via the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form [GDS-SF]) were assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Positive forms of engagement/affect increased, while negative forms of engagement decreased. Regarding depression, for a subsample of 29 participants who scored in the depressed range on the GDS-SF at baseline, depressive symptoms were reduced at post-treatment. Although overall quality of life did not change, the increase in positive affect during SI suggests that quality of life was higher during the intervention itself. In conclusion, SI possesses the characteristics of a high-quality intervention for PWD and seems worthy of further investigation in future research.